Boycott Eurovision in style with Queers against Eurovision
Posted on: 02 May 2024An all-star team of Bristolian queer performers have banded together to throw a special anti-Eurovision party to protest the inclusion of Israel in the competition.
Eurovision 2024 is set to take place next week, on the 7th, 9th and 11th of May – but not everyone will be celebrating. This year, the inclusion of Israel in the competition has caused controversy amongst Eurovision viewers, many of whom feel that Israel’s invasion and consistent genocide of Palestine should result in at least a boycott from this light entertainment competition (or, ideally, sanctions and international condemnation), especially considering there is precendent – Russia was banned from the competition for their invasion of Ukraine in 2021.
Communities across Europe, include Bristol’s queer community, have chosen to boycott Eurovision in protest of the inclusion of Israel in the competition – and the decision of trailblazing LGBTQ+ artist Olly Alexander (best known as the lead singer of Years & Years) to remain in the competition.
In that spirit, Blank TV and House of Boussé have assembled an all-star queer Avengers team to throw an alternative party next week, Wednesday 8 May; both rejecting Eurovision and raising money for legal defence funds, and to help a family trapped in Rafah. As they put it: " Queer communities will not allow Israel to parade as a 'haven' for LGBTQ+ rights while they continue brutal colonisation of Palestine."
The event will see a mixture of drag, punk, and other live music, with performances from local stars BooHoo Man, Ernest the Drag King, GORZ, Kezzy, Liv Wynter, Oliver Assets, V and Xanthe Kween – with the event hosted by the prolific Gender Criminal. It does pose the question: why watch 40 of the same ballad when you could be watching a vibrant, diverse cabaret of genderqueer punk, inventive drag, and top-notch circus performances?
Queers against Eurovision is taking place at Strange Brew next Wednesday, 8 May, from 19:00 to 22:30. For tickets, go over to Headfirst.
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Patrick is a filmmaker with so much Bristol in his blood the white blood cells are graffiti'd. Educated at the Northern Film School in Leeds, he’s returned home to be a Videographer and Reviewer for 365Bristol and BARBI. When he’s not messing about with cameras, he enjoys playing guitar, spending far too much time on tabletop RPGs, and being an awful snob about cider. Have a look at his work here, or get in touch at patrickb@365bristol.com.
